Poor run continues for Luton RFC

Farhan Daw

Luton RFC continued their poor run of form going into 2015 after losing 11-3 at home to North Walsham in their London One North clash on Saturday, a fourth defeat in five games.

Cold conditions and a waterlogged pitch didn’t help the quality of the game as the ball often slipped out from the players’ hands when in possession.

Luton winger Ewan McGonagall was recalled to the starting line-up following academic commitments at university, while the hosts were ahead early on through Rik Hobbs’ penalty.

Walsham were awarded one of their own nine minutes later, which Henry Dewing converted, before the visitors went 6-3 ahead with another penalty midway through the half.

Shortly after the break, the Vikings found space down the left flank and made full use of it as Luton full-back Scott Aspinall tried desperately to stop the oncoming Pieter Claussen, but Shane Jance van Vuuren secured the try.

Although Luton battled hard they could not find a way through as a dejected coach, Chris Parr said: “We can’t use Christmas as an excuse. Walsham also had Christmas and travelled a long way so it would be a poor excuse.”

“It’s difficult to put into words how disappointed I am.

“The team are disappointed also, we really should be performing better.

“We have made a commitment to improving results but that also comes with improving the quality of our training.”

With promotion now unlikely, the most realistic target for the team is to ensure they finish in the top half of the table.

However speedy winger Tesh Edwards was thinking positively as he added: “We are still missing a few key players, that’s why it is a bit hit and miss, despite the intensity being there, finishing off our moves proved futile.

“Once we get the injured group of players back, we can aim to finish in a top five positions, and perhaps even shift our attention to the East Midlands Cup, which if we win, we can say it was a successful season”.